'Controlling boyfriend' jailed after police spot victim crying on roadside

A controlling boyfriend who assaulted his ex-partner has been jailed after police saw his victim crying at the side of the road.

Thomas Eastwood, 19, followed his former girlfriend as she walked down a street in Sunderland earlier this year just weeks after they had separated.

Convinced she had been texting other men, Eastwood forcibly snatched her phone from her hands and then hit her hand as she tried to get it back - before demanding she left with him.

An on-patrol officer who was driving down Durham Road saw the argument unfold and noticed the woman was clearly upset and in distress.

The officers took her to a safe location and asked her what had happened. A short time later, Eastwood was located and found in possession of a large kitchen knife that he had tucked inside his coat, which he had taken on a supervised visit to see his baby daughter.

The victim later disclosed that she had been subjected to controlling behaviour by Eastwood throughout their relationship.

Eastwood, of no fixed abode, admitted assault, possessing a knife and coercive behaviour when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on July 22.

He was subsequently jailed for 16 months and handed a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim.

In a statement, his victim said she feels “lucky” that a police officer saw the altercation and stopped to help.

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you can contact Northumbria Police by telephone on 101 or on their website.

In an emergency, the advice is to always call 999. If you dial 999 and are unable to speak, the emergency operator will ask you to dial 55 and to follow their instruction to quickly put you in touch with police.

• For support, you can call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and support is also available locally by calling the numbers below.

• If you are committing abuse and feel like you need help and want to change, you can contact Respect on 0808 8024040.